A New Flagship Location for Creative Bloc

Challenges:

John Jackson, founder of Creative Bloc, was in the process of selling his existing property and needed to strategically replace it with a new long-term investment and operating location for his growing coworking company. The challenge was twofold:

• Identify a replacement property that could serve as a future flagship downtown location for Creative Bloc, and
• Find a building that offered the right combination of size, character, location, and investment fundamentals while allowing for near-term income and long-term redevelopment.

The ideal asset needed to support Creative Bloc’s expansion plans, maintain operational continuity during the transition, and position the company to make a meaningful, permanent investment in downtown Baton Rouge.

Actions:

Justin Langlois with Stirling worked closely with John Jackson to define acquisition criteria that balanced investment performance with operational and branding goals. The search focused on downtown and near-downtown properties that could provide:

• Long-term control of a sizable, high-visibility footprint for Creative Bloc’s next-generation coworking hub
• Interim income from an in-place tenant to offset carrying costs during planning and design
• Historic character and proximity to downtown amenities and interstate access
• A purchase price that supported both redevelopment and long-term ownership objectives

When the 23,000-square-foot building at 1201 Main Street became available, its scale, architectural character, strategic location, and future tenant rollover created a compelling opportunity. Justin advised John through underwriting, negotiations, and due diligence, helping structure the acquisition so Creative Bloc could seamlessly transition from its prior location into a larger, more impactful downtown presence.

Results:

Creative Bloc successfully acquired the downtown office building at 1201 Main Street for $1,100,000, securing a long-term home for its next major coworking hub. The existing tenant, Providence Engineering, will remain in the building until completion of its new headquarters in summer 2026, providing stable interim income. Following the tenant’s relocation, Creative Bloc plans to undertake extensive renovations, with a projected opening of the new downtown location in early 2027.

Testimonial

"Justin and I work so well together. He knew what I needed to accomplish in selling my existing location and helped me acquire a new home for my business, Creative Bloc."
- John Jackson, Founder, Creative Bloc